PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Hartsock's no tight fit, either

One of three tight ends signed by the Patriots on Sunday, Ben Hartsock is already the second member of that group who is no longer with the team. The 10-year veteran was released by the team Thursday morning.

FOXBORO – A late arrival to training camp, signed by the Patriots on Sunday, Ben Hartsock said that returning to the rigors of life in pro football was “like a bike and you just jump back on.”

The 10-year NFL veteran may have jumped back on, but he never got to take off the training wheels in New England.

Hartsock became the second member of the gang of three tight ends signed by the Patriots on Sunday who failed to make it through the week with the team when he was released Thursday morning.

Terrence Miller was waived injured by the team on Wednesday.

Those two moves leave Steve Maneri as the only one of the three still employed by the Patriots.

Maneri also happens to be the Patriots’ only tight end by trade who would appear to be ready to play in tonight’s preseason home opener with the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium.

Rob Gronkowski isn’t ready for contact coming off last season’s knee injury while Michael Hoomanawanui and D.J. Williams have been absent from practice due to injuries.

With the position depleted, fullback James Develin, who has doubled as a tight end in the past, hasn’t been lacking for reps at the position.

No Mayo: The Patriots’ list of absentees at Thursday’s joint walkthrough with the Eagles included linebacker Jerod Mayo (unknown reason).

Mayo, of course, suffered a pectoral tear and was limited to six games last year.

Mayo also missed the two joint practices with the Eagles on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Solder’s early exit: Offensive left tackle Nate Solder, who had a woeful preseason opener against the Redskins, exited late in practice, accompanied by a trainer, but the situation didn’t appear to be serious.

Given the tempo of the practice – it was, after all, a walkthrough – it would seem unlikely that it was.

Boyce grades himself: His most noteworthy play may have been a penalty, but 2013 fourth-round draft choice Josh Boyce, who is battling for a job at the wide receiver position, gave himself a passing grade for his performance in the Patriots’ 23-6 preseason-opening loss to the Washington Redskins.

“I think I did pretty good,” said Boyce, who was targeted five times and came away with three catches for 30 yards in the game. “I mean, I had the offside. That was one thing. Other than that, I think I had a pretty good game. I just learn from the mistakes I had and just build on that.”

Boyce, who averaged 23.8 yards on nine kickoff returns last year but didn’t touch the ball in that capacity last week, sounded anxious for a return to that role.

Page 2 of 2 - “I’ve been doing it for a while now,” he said. “We go back to high school and college and things like that. I’m pretty comfortable with it. I like the ball in my hands to try and make something happen.”